Watch Kate Smurthwaite's full speech for the National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony 2022 - on remembrance, grief and the need to take radical action to oppose war and militarism today.


The ceremony took place in front of the memorial stone for conscientious objectors in Tavistock Square, London. After two minutes' silence, white poppy wreaths were laid at the memorial, in memory of all victims of war.



Kate Smurthwaite is a left-wing, feminist activist, comedian and writer. Kate performs all over the UK and internationally, and stars in the News at Kate video series. She has worked with asylum seekers through Women For Refugee Women and Women Asylum Seekers Together. She appears regularly as a panellist on television shows such as Question Time, Woman's Hour and the Jeremy Vine show.